Gripping device to remove bushings and the like



Jam M Wfifi GRANT 2,496fi05 GRIPPING DEVICE TO REMOVE BUSHINGS AND THELIKE Filed Nov. 2, 1946 Z 36 O 5/ 39 W/BE Patented Jan. 31, 1950 UNITEDSTATES GRIPPIN G DEVICE TO REMOVE BUSHING AND THE LIKE I Robert H.Grant, Everett, Mass. Application November 2, 1946, Serial No. 707,377

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a gripping device for removing bushings or thelike, particularly from steering post assemblies in automobiles.

In repairing or making changes in the steering post assembly of someautomobiles the bushing around the post must be removed, and since it istightly fitted in the outside housing or jacket it is customary toforcibly hammer and pry it out. This often irreparably damages it. Myprincipal object is to provide a special device to withdraw said bushingeasily without damaging it.

Another object is to provide a said device that is compact, simple inoperation, and that can be manufactured at a reasonable cost.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of theinvention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction,combination and arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by thedrawings and specification. The nature of the invention is such as torender it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and,therefore, I am not to be limited to said disclosure; but am entitled toall such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claim.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a jaw member.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a clamp supporting ring.

As illustrated, my device has a relatively long supporting sleeve IDwhich is interiorly screw threaded as at [2 and has an enlarged neckportion l4 at the bottom. There is an interior opening It extendinglongitudinally therethrough.

I provide means to grip the bushing 45 of a steering post assembly,later described, having two substantiall semi-circular jaw members [8the outer surfaces of which preferably flare downwardly, so that thelower edge of this gripping means is of greater circumference than theupper edge. The upper portions of said jaw members 18 are thicker as atI811 than the lower portions l8b. Both side edge extremities of said jawmembers slant downwardly inward thus leaving considerable space I 9between one said jaw member and another at the lowe portions I817thereof to make the gripping of the bushing rim 45, later described,easier. An inwardly extending rim at the lower edges of said jaw membersI B provides a shoulder 20 which overlaps and extends under the rim 46of the bushing when positioned for use, as later described.

A channel 22 is formed in the outer surfaces of said upper portion lawof jaws I8 to receive a circular, coiled spring 24- which holds said jawportions H3 in assembled position. A hole 26 extends through the side ofeach jaw portion l8 at upper portion of said thinner portion I 8b.

Mounted within said gripping means between said two jaw members It is aclamp supporting ring 30 which has two screw-threaded extensions 32 eachof which extends through a said hole 26 and around which are coilsprings 34 which bear against the interior surfaces of said jaw membersl8 that surround said holes 26. These springs 34 keep said jaw members18 under some tension to hold the assembly firmly. Said neck portion [4of said supporting sleeve [0 serves as a stop to prevent said ring 39slipping off said sleeve.

Cooperating with said screw-threaded extensions 32 are movable clampmembers 36, each of which has a handle 31 attached to the head of asocket 38 that is interiorly screw-threaded as at 39. Said socket 38 islarger than said hole 26 hence the outside end surface of each saidsocket bears against the outside surface of a said jaw member l8surrounding a said hole 26 when said clamp members 36 are tightened byscrewing them up on said screw-threaded extensions 32. This pressure onthe outside of said jaw portions l8 forces them towards each other thustightening said gripping means.

Cooperating with said supporting sleeve n0 is a forcing member 42 havinga long, screwthreaded portion 43 Which extends into said interioropening 16 in said supporting sleeve l0 and screw-threadedly connectswith said threads l2. Its head or finger portion is wider than saidopening l6.

In Figures 1 and 2 my device is shown positioned on a bushing 45 whichordinarily has an outwardly projecting rim 46 at the top. The steeringpost 49 of the type of automobile or other vehicle this device isadapted for normally extends into the opening H; of said supportingsleeve it directly below the lower end of said forcing screw 42 when mydevice is positioned for use.

In use, the clamp members 36 are loosened and said gripping means isplaced on said bushing 45 with said shoulder 20 of the gripping meansextending over and bearing against the inner surface of said bushingprojecting rim 46 so that any upward movement of said gripping meanswill tend to pull said bushing away from said steering post assembly.Then said clamp members 36 are tightened, thus moving said jaw membersI8 together to tightly hold said bushing 45 in said gripping means. Theforcing screw 42 is screwed downwardly against said steering post 49,which is in fixed position, hence said bushing is raised, thus graduallywithdrawing it from the steering post assembly.

What I claim is:

A gripping device comprising a supporting sleeve having a neck portionat the bottom that is of greater width than the adjoining portionthereof, two substantially semi-circular jaw members each having aperipherally extending channel in their upper portion outer surfaces,

a spring in said channels extending. around both.

ring having two extensions embodying screw threaded portions that extendthrough said jaw member holes, coil springs around said extensions theouter ends of which bear against the inner surfaces of the portions ofsaid jaw members that surround said holes, two clamp members for saidtwo extensions each embodying a handle and a screw-threaded socketportion that are in screwthreaded engagement with said extensions.

ROBERT H. GRANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,858,238 Cornwall May 17, 19322,377,973 Scott June 12, 1945 2,421,324 Graham May 27, 1947 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 331,320 Great Britain Feb. 5, 930

